Vacancy: Senior Research Associate

Company Profile

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a United States-based non-profit organization dedicated to discovering, and promoting effective solutions to global poverty problems. IPA designs, rigorously evaluate and refines these solutions and their applications together with decision-makers to ensure that the evidence created is used to  improve opportunities for the world’s poor.

Job Description

• Reports to: Country Director


• Location: Accra, Ghana.


• Deadline to apply: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis


• Desired start date: 1-December-2021


• Length of commitment: 2 year (renewable)

IPA Ghana is seeking a Senior Research Associate to support IPA Ghana’s provision of technical assistance for the differentiated learning (DL) scale-up in Ghana. This is an exciting opportunity to drive effective education policy in Ghana, through providing evidence-based support to the Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP), a US$219 million fund from the World Bank, Global Partnership for Education, and FCDO.

Ghana's Ministry of Education has incorporated findings from the Strengthening Teacher Accountability to Reach All Students (STARS) evaluation into GALOP. Through this opportunity, this role will support the scale up of evidence-based education in 10,000 of the lowest performing schools in Ghana, contributing critical knowledge for future innovation in Ghana and beyond.

The Senior Research Associate will support the RFE Coordinator, Principal Investigators, and other team members with routine monitoring and evaluation, nimble experiments, and capacity-building activities on data management and analysis. The Sr. RA will complete key tasks including: setting up a data management system for MEL which will be accessed by Ghana Education Service (GES) personnel; co-programming data collection instruments (i.e. Survey CTO, google forms) with GES personnel; co-analyzing survey data and providing advice on data quality controls; and generating key insights from data in the form of dashboards or reports. The Sr. RA will also help design and deliver MEL capacity building activities for GES personnel, specifically pertaining to data management and analysis. The Sr. RA will report to the Sr. Project Manager.

Responsibilities

Team and Logistics Management (30%)

• Manage short term staff recruitment, contract preparation, training, management and evaluation of field staff;


• Assist in the enforcement of all IPA Ghana human resources and security policies;


• Plan, conduct and lead research project activities including training field and project staff, team planning and logistics, and data collection;


• Play a lead role in engagement with Principal Investigators on matters related to the assigned research project;


• Ensure close collaboration with implementing partners and other high-level stakeholders involved with the project;


• Work with IPA Ghana’s Finance team to keep detailed records of all project activities and establish systems to ensure the efficient disbursement and reconciliation of project funds

Survey Management (35%)

• Create and monitor annual project plans;


• Conduct pilot survey exercises, provide feedback on field operations, and survey instruments, and refine and finalize survey instruments in collaboration with the Principal Investigators and policy partners;


• Work with the IPA Ghana Research Quality team to provide quality control during the data collection and cleaning processes;


• Provide regular progress updates to Principal Investigators and Policy partners;

Data work and Reporting (35%)

• Conduct preliminary and advanced data analysis, whenever applicable and in close consultation with the IPA Ghana Policy Advisor;


• Ensure that research data and outputs are stored in a confidential and systematic manner;


• Assist in the preparation of research reports, briefs, and other documents for management, donors, education sector partners, and other external parties;


• Work closely with the RFE Coordinator and Senior Project Manager to support the use of data for partner engagement and decision making.

Required Skills or Experience

• A Bachelor’s or Master´s degree in economics, public policy, international development, or related fields and


• At least 2 years of work experience after graduation from undergraduate. Preferably in a research setting and data analysis. Exceptions may be made for excellent candidates who do not meet this criterion;


• Excellent project management and organizational skills; meticulous attention to detail; ability to work independently;


• Familiarity with randomized controlled trials;


• Excellent English verbal and written communication skills;


• Strong quantitative skills and knowledge of Stata required; programming and other technical knowledge a strong plus;


• Willingness to travel within Ghana;


• Demonstrated ability to manage relationships with partner organizations;


• Capability to manage multiple tasks efficiently;


• Must be able to work under pressure and meet deadlines, while maintaining a positive attitude and providing exemplary customer service;


• Ability to work independently and to carry out assignments to completion within parameters of instructions given, prescribed routines, and standard accepted practices